Jason Helgoth, age 13, of Fargo, N.D., for his question:

HOW DID THE RODEO DEVELOP?

A rodeo is a sporting contest combining the skills of cowboys and cowgirls with the spirit of the Old West. Rodeos are held in many parts of the United States and Canada each year.
The first rodeos were held in the late 1800s. They developed as part of the cattle drives that were held regularly. Often when two cattle outfits met on the trail to market, the cowboys competed in bronco riding and steer roping. Contests were held to see which team could display the greatest skills.
One version has it that the first rodeo for spectators took place in Pecos, Texas, in 1833. The best riders and ropers from many cattle ranches were invited to take part in the contest.
It wasn't until 1936, just a bit over 50 years ago, that cowboys formed the first professional rodeo organization. Today, most professional rodeos are sponsored by the Rodeo Cowboys Association and the International Rodeo Association.
Little Britches is an organization that supervises rodeos for young people today. Also, there is a National High School Rodeo Association and the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
There are two main groups of rodeo activities: rough stock events and timed events. Rough stock includes bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. Cowboys try to ride bucking horses or bulls for eight or 10 seconds. Judges award points to contestants, chiefly for form and how well they spur the animals.
A favorite timed event is calf roping. This for teamwork between the cowboy and his horse. The cowboy chases a calf on horseback, ropes it and dismounts. He must then throw the calf to the ground and tie three of its legs together.
Other timed events are steer wrestling, team roping and steer roping.

Steer wrestling is also called bulldogging, and it is the only event in a rodeo in which the contestant may have a helper, called a hazer. A hazer keeps the steer running in a straight line so the cowboy can jump from his horse onto the steer's back. The cowboy then grabs the steer by its horns and wrestles it to the ground.
Team roping is the only major event in which two contestants actually work together. One cowboy ropes the steer's horns, and the other ropes its hind legs. The team finishes when both men have pulled their ropes tight at a 90 degree angle from the steer.
Barrel racing is the only regular event in many rodeos in which a division for cowgirls is offered. Each girl rides her horse in a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels. The cowgirl is penalized five seconds for each barrel she knocks over. Fastest time wins the event.
The American Humane Association has established rules for the care of rodeo stock.